Fire Hose Reel

ABSTRACT

A preferred embodiment of the Fire Hose Reel is comprised of a wheel, a handle, and a tensioner assembly. A preferred embodiment allows a fire fighter after use of a hose to easily roll the fire hose onto the device. As the fire hose is reeled up, the embodiment of the Fire Hose Reel squeezes water out of the device. Further, as the fire hose is reeled up onto the Fire Hose Reel proper tensioning of the fire hose is provided simultaneously to the fire hose being rolled via the tensioner assembly. The handle and the support wheel are in connected to the tensioner assembly which supports the fire hose.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of the provisional application with Ser. No. 61/009,506 of the same title filed on Dec. 29, 2007. The entire contents of provisional application 61/009,506 is herein incorporated by reference . . . .

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to the general area of firefighting equipment, particularly the area of fire hose reels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a side view of an embodiment of the fire hose reel showing the wheel, a handle and a tensioner assembly; FIG. 1 b is a side view of an embodiment of the fire hose reel showing the wheel and a handle and a can assembly.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of the fire hose reel showing the wheel and a handle and a can assembly.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the tensioner assembly of the fire hose reel.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the handle of the fire hose reel.

FIG. 5 a is a front view of an embodiment of the tensioner of the fire hose reel; FIG. 5 b is a side view of an embodiment of the tensioner of the fire hose reel; FIG. 5 c is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tensioner of the fire hose reel.

FIG. 6 a is a front view of an embodiment of the wheel of the fire hose reel; FIG. 6 b is a side view of an embodiment of the wheel of the fire hose reel.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the side plate of the fire hose reel.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the fire hose reel showing a partially coiled fire hose with the fire hose engaged in the tensioner assembly.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an of an embodiment of the fire hose reel showing a partially coiled fire hose with the fire hose engaged in the tensioner assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 a, FIG. 1 b and FIG. 2, which show an embodiment of the Fire Hose Reel 100, this embodiment is a device to deploy or roll up a fire hose comprising a handle, a wheel assembly, and a tensioner assembly so that when a user pushes the device by the handle the wheel assembly rotates around a center of rotation. All elements of the embodiment are manufactured from plate or rolled metal or polymeric material. The metal can be any strong, inflexible metal such as, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, or iron. The polymeric material may be any strong, inflexible polymeric material such as, but not limited to, polyethylene or polystyrene.

Referring to FIG. 3, which shows an embodiment of the tensioner assembly, the tensioner assembly embodiment is comprised of a side plate 304, a handle connector 306, a hinge 307, and a tensioner.

The tensioner is in turn comprised of a tensioner plate 303, a lower rod 308 with a lower rod cap washer 301, and an upper rod 309 with an upper rod cap washer 302. The lower rod 308 and upper rod 309 are affixed to the side plate 304 so that the lower rod 308 is positioned closer to the axis of rotation of the wheel than the upper rod 309. The lower rod 308 and upper rod 309 are affixed to the side plate 304 via pins 311 and a lower rod cap washer 301 and upper rod cap washer 302. The end of the pins distal from the cap washers is permanently affixed to the side plate 304. The tensioner plate 303 is permanently affixed to the lower rod 308. The lower rod 308 and upper rod 309 are capable of rotating or pivoting around its internal axis. When the lower rod 308 rotates the tensioner plate 303 rotates along with the lower rod 308.

The tensioner plate forms a first spring aperture 310 which permits one end of a spring 106 to be inserted through the first spring aperture 310. The side plate 304 forms a second spring aperture 311 through which the other end of the spring 106 is inserted. The fire hose 701 is inserted through the tensioner assembly 103 so that the side of the tensioner plate 303 opposite the first spring aperture 319 is pressed against the fire hose 701 which is in turn pressed against the upper rod 309. In other words the fire hose is slightly constrained between the upper rod 309 and the tensioner plate 303. This slight constraint allows the fire hose to maintain the proper tension while it is being rolled or deployed.

The handle connector 306 is affixed to the side plate 304 by passing an axle through an aperture 602 formed by the wheel, through an aperture formed by the side plate 701, through the axle bushing 305, and where the wheel 101, side plate 304 and handle connector 306 are co-joined by a axle 104 and a nut and threaded connection 105 on the end of the axle.

As shown in FIG. 4, an embodiment of the Fire Hose Reel 100 is also comprised of handle 102. The handle 102 is affixed to the hinge 307 via a hinge connector 401 and two threaded connectors. When both threaded connectors are installed through the hinge connector 401, the hinge 307, and the side plate hinge slot 702, which is formed by the side plate 304, the handle 102 becomes rigidly connected to the side plate 304. When one of threaded connectors is removed, the handle 102 can be folded to allow for ready transport of the Fire Hose Reel. The handle 102 provides a means for the user to push or pull the Fire Hose Reel 100 thereby allowing the Fire Hose Reel 100 to deploy or reel up a fire hose 701.

In the best mode of operation of the preferred embodiment, one end of the fire hose is placed between the support spindles 601 near the radius of the support wheel 101. The hose is then threaded through the tensioner assembly 103 and the fire hose is then wound up by pushing the preferred embodiment of the invention along the length of the fire hose. As the preferred embodiment is pushed the wheel 101 turns which causes the fire hose through the tensioner assembly 103. The tensioner assembly 103 squeezes the fire hose thereby forcing water out of the fire hose and providing the proper tension for winding of the hose. Once the complete fire hose is wound onto the Fire Hose Reel, the entire assembly with the hose is laid on the ground, hose side down, and the hose slides off the Fire Hose Reel onto the ground ready for storage or transport. 

1. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose comprising a handle, a wheel assembly, and a tensioner assembly so that when a user pushes the device by the handle the wheel assembly rotates around a center of rotation.
 2. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 1 where the wheel support is comprised of a wheel, a pair of support spindles, where the wheel forms an aperture to accept an axle.
 3. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 1 where the tensioner assembly is comprised of a side plate, a handle connector, a hinge, and a tensioner plate.
 4. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 3 where all elements are manufactured from plate or rolled metal or plate or rolled polymeric material.
 5. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 4 where the metal is steel, aluminum, or iron.
 6. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 4 where the polymeric material is polyethylene or polystyrene.
 7. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 4 where the tensioner plate is comprised of a tensioner plate, an lower rod with an lower rod cap washer, an upper rod with an upper rod cap washer, where the lower rod is permanently affixed to the tensioner plate so that the lower rod is positioned lower to the ground than the upper rod, and where the upper rod is permanently affixed to the tensioner plate so that the upper rod is positioned further from the ground than the lower rod.
 8. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 7 where the handle connector is attached to the center of rotation of the wheel assembly via an axle which passes through an axle bushing where the axle bushing is permanently affixed to the handle connector.
 9. A device to deploy or roll up a fire hose as described in claim 8 where the handle connector is affixed to the side plate by passing an axle through an aperture formed by the wheel, through an aperture formed by the side plate, through the axle bushing, and where the wheel, side plate and handle connector are co-joined by the axle and a nut and threaded connection on the end of the axle.
 10. The method of rolling up a fire hose comprising engaging the end of a fire hose in spindles of a wheel assembly, pushing a handle causing the wheel assembly to rotate and as the wheel assembly causing the hose to coil onto the wheel assembly, pushing the handle to cause the wheel assembly to rotate alongside the fire hose as it lay outstretched on the ground, pushing the handle to cause the wheel assembly to travel approximately five feet past the hose once the hose is passed, causing the wheel assembly to turn about; pushing the handle to cause the wheel assembly to rotate alongside the fire hose until the hose is completely rolled up on the wheel assembly thereby making the hose ready for transport or storage. 